I want an AR... but I'm clueless.

I think the only way to go is a flat top, like you want. much easier to mount different optics if you want.

I have a rock river arms, mid length a4 with the 6 position butt stock. It has the heavy barrel on it. My only complaints with my rifles is the weight. I have a yankee hill free float quad rail on it. it weighs I think about 18 oz. I'd rather have the lightweight which weighs 12 oz, or else just go to the normal plastic handguards. My rifle is front heavy and that bothers the wrist of my shooting hand if I have to one hand the gun for anything. I also have the heavy barrel up front, which makes it worse. But I do like that barrel, as it holds tight groups even when it's hot.

If you just want an AR for fun, I'd go with the lighter weight barrel on it.. the R-4 profile barrel. I'd also go with the m-4 length gas system.. but for me that's more of a weight savings than anything else. Less handguard up there.

I don't think mine has a chrome lined barrel, but from what I hear.. they seem to last longer. Also, for general all around shooting.. a 1:9" twist ratio would suit you best. It allows you to shoot a good mix of ammo through it.

I don't know what brand you are looking at, but rock river is good. I like mine a lot. This is what I'm considering getting if I'm able to buy another AR before any assault weapons ban comes around again. Just have to buy a stripped lower for it. Only thing I'd have to do is slap a rear folding sight on it, and an optic and I'd be good to go.

http://www.rockriverarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=AR4001&storeid=1&image=kcara407.gif&CFID=35993650&CFTOKEN=73854891

Also, mine has the same butt stock as that. I like the adjustable one because it allows other shooters to fit it to them. Plus, depending on the style of shooting you are doing.. sometimes it's nice to have it longer or shorter. If you're doing long range shooting from a rest, I like to have it extended. If you had to use it indoors, it's nice to shorten it a bit.

I guess the only thing I don't like about that stock, is it has a little movement in it.. twisting. you notice it a bit if you are shooting from a rest. So I am going to be replacing that with a magpul ctr stock.

http://www.magpul.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70_73_110&products_id=234

This has a tension thing in it that holds it tight against the tube, so you don't get that wiggle movement like with the other stock. If you are going to build a rifle.. and wanted that stock, then just buy that instead of the normal stocks you have to choose from. This way you have adjustable length, plus it's solid on the gun for shooting from a rest for accuracy.

Anyway that's just my opinion. Everyone's AR is different, they each take on a life of their own. I'm just letting you know what I like, and what I don't like about my AR. If I want to use my gun for more active shooting, i would be best off with getting rid of my heavy quad rail in place of a plastic handguard, it would shed 1 lb off the weight up front. And changing my butt stock. Other than that, I love my rifle. Im not a very experienced rifle shooter, but from a rest pretty much teh first time I took it out shooting at distance, I was putting groups the size of a pop bottle cap once I got my scope I have sighted in. so the gun is more accurate than I am, that's for sure..

Bulding is all well and good, but I don't recommend it for your first rifle, especially if you know next to nothing about what to get. You think the choices for prebuilts is vast, it gets much worse trying to get parts. And unless you know exactly where to buy the parts you want, you really aren't going to save any money. There are plenty of great rifles out there for under $800

For your first rifle, buy a built one. Get either an RRA, or DPMS. They have the most preconfigured variations and are easy to find deals on because they're very prevalent. They are also damn good.

I have an RRA Entry Tactical that I picked up brand new from www.ajcsportshop.com at a local funshow for $750. Fantastic rifle and I've been modding it little by little over the months as I shoot it and see what I really need. The rifle is accurate, extemely reliable, and the fit and finish is top notch. I was considering DPMS, but I found the RRA quality to be more consistent and the fit between the upper and lower was nice and tight.


RRA also makes a CAR-4 flat top kit (minus stripped lower reciever) for under $650. Order that onlne and then pick up an RRA lower at a funshow and you can build it yourself and save a few bucks. This way the upper is aleady assembled and test fired and you'll need a lot less spoecialty tools to build the rifle.